More serious NSFW dubcon ahead (physical restraints, touching). Implied bl*wj*b aftermath (use of spiritual power, no hands) with no graphic details.
â
Xie Zhiwei was ready to righteously rebuke him. Even if he couldnât wake Mu He up, itâd at least help him vent. But as soon as he opened his mouth, he cried out.
He looked at Mu He in disbelief. âYouâŚhow presumptuous!â He was horrified to find that someone was grasping that important thing between his legs.
âDonât touch me!â
But that didnât dissuade the grip. Mu He raised his head and looked at him in infatuation, as if even his anger was the most moving sight in the world.
Xie Zhiwei took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. âAre you not even going to listen to masterâs words?â
Mu He immediately grew respectful and took a step back, raising his hands in the air. âShizun, disciple is already listening.â But his gaze showed undisguised cunning. Truly, he wasnât physically touching Xie Zhiwei at the moment, but the sensation between his legs was still very present. What was previous an intimate grip had actually started to move suspiciously back and forth like a feather to stroke the most sensitive tip.
This was the breath of Black Lotus.
Black Lotus could be applied directly to a personâs soul. Just like how Ming Kong and Xie Zhiweiâs fake âChi Yanâ had suffered its torture, the difference between flesh and soul was like that of Heaven and Earth. If it was an ant bite, the flesh might feel a slight pain with itchiness, but the soul would feel a stabbing pain straight to the heart. This was the current contrast Xie Zhiwei was experiencing.
Moreover, this body had been abstinent for over a century, so its sensitivity was ten times more heightened.
Xie Zhiwei was about to blow his top from rage, but his body reacted beyond his control.
âYou! Unfilial discipleâŚâ Following that came a whimper before Xie Zhiwei closed his eyes and clenched his jaw.
Iâm actually hard. Are the heroâs skills that good, or am I too thirsty?
While Xie Zhiwei reluctantly shut his eyes, he heard Mu He say softly, âShizun, I really want to find a mirror so you can see how good you look right now.â
The voice was light and far away, but seemed to float past his ears like a strand of silk, carrying the same bit of damp heat that came from Mu He biting his earlobe. Sweat broke out on Xie Zhiweiâs forehead. With White Lotus binding him and Black Lotus twining around his body, he was nothing more than a puppet. Even if he was fully clothed, it was utterly humiliating.
The waves of pleasure washing over him also embarrassed him completely. He was so busy acting in his past life that his private life was very clean. But all men had needs, so it wasnât like he hadnât jerked off before. Still, he had to admit that this felt much better than doing it himself.
Thatâs why itâs humiliating!
Mu He observed every micro expression on Xie Zhiweiâs face, from stoicism, to shame, and then helplessness. His gaze deepened before he gently hooked his fingers. The auras of White and Black Lotus wrapped around Xie Zhiwei suddenly intensified their movements.
Xie Zhiwei lost his ability to stand. His legs turned to jelly, but he didnât fall with White Lotus steadily propping him up. He lifted his head, teeth still clenched and brows furrowed as if facing some great tribulation. But his increasingly labored breaths and slightly flushed cheeks let Mu He know that his shizun wasnât suffering too much.
At least it was much more comfortable than enduring any true tribulation.
Xie Zhiwei used his last shreds of sanity to fight against his body, so he didnât even notice when Mu He was holding him in his arms again. Mu He cradled his face in one hand before he swallowed, then pressed his lips against the otherâs before easily pushing past Xie Zhiweiâs teeth with his tongue. Following that, Xie Zhiwei let out a muffled groan.
The tendrils of Black Lotus tightened their grip between his legs before his body spasmed violently. Then he fell limp. For a while his mind was in a mess as his thoughts drifted.
These clothesâŚIâll need to change again.
He panted for breath, opened his eyes, and met Mu Heâs eyes right in front of him. He turned aside to avoid the manâs gaze, his expression cold. Mu He regarded him timidly even though his grip on him wasnât shy at all. âIs shizun angry with this disciple? But shizun clearly felt so much.â
Xie Zhiweiâs voice was heavy. âDo you want to follow Ming Kongâs example and make master into a second Shen You?â
Both of them froze at the words.
This was also hard for Xie Zhiwei. He was an acting fanatic who pored over scripts and studied acting skills everyday. In the muddy waters of the entertainment industry, he could be considered a stream of fresh air. Most of his knowledge of homosexuality came from film and television works. Certain actors played those roles, but he wasnât familiar with any of them. Nor did they dare to show themselves often before an important senior in the business like himself. Occasionally heâd hear some rumors, but only thought indifferently, âSo thatâs how it is,â without touching or involving himself in them.
He instinctively brought up Ming Kong and Shen You because their storyline had thoroughly thrashed him after he transmigrated. Back then he was too busy with staying in character to progress the plot and either yawned or ignored the sidestory details. Who knew the same thing would happen to him years later?
Moreover, Shen Youâs miserable end and Ashen Cloud Sword Sectâs destruction had given him a biased outlook: he thought all gay men were perverts and turning gay would only lead to a bad ending.
Meanwhile, Mu Heâs flushed face had all but paled and even the hand gripping him was much looser.
As expected, Iâm not the only one who remembered that bloody example. Xie Zhiwei mercilessly shoved Mu He aside and quickly straightened his clothes. When Mu He saw how much he feared him, his eyes dimmed. A bitter smile broke out on his face. âShizun is comparing disciple to Ming Kong?â
Xie Zhiwei didnât speak, his eyes lowered.
It was inappropriate to compare the hero with a mere cannon fodder. But you two are the only gay characters in this book! I canât think of anyone else to compare with, ah!
Plus, the protagonist is much more handsome than Ming Kong. And much more perverted.
After a silence that stretched on like death, Mu He finally spoke. âIf shizun thinks this way about me, IâŚâ he paused before narrowing his eyes to snatch Xie Zhiweiâs wrist. âI can onlyâŚâ
âYou!â Caught off guard, Xie Zhiwei crashed into his arms again. He frowned and looked up, only to give a start.
Mu He was staring fixedly at him with an expression of self-loathing.
Xie Zhiweiâs heart gave a lurch. âYou can only what?â
Mu He smiled at him and said, word for word, âDisciple can onlyâŚdo as shizun says.â
Xie Zhiwei panicked. Images of Shen Youâs puppet-like figure flashed in his mind. Those listless eyes that knew nothing of good or evil, cold or hot, love or hateâheâd rather die a clean death than experience that.
âLet go!â he cried.
But Mu He ruthlessly pressed him against his chest while White and Black Lotus wrapped Xie Zhiwei up so tightly that he could hardly breathe.
âLet go? How could I bear to?â Mu Heâs voice was gentle. âEven if disciple didnât reveal my feelings today, shizun wasnât planning to stay, right? Otherwise, why would you change your face, wear a mask, and refuse to identify yourself even though your life was hanging by a thread? Shizun, have you ever considered this disciple at all?â
A strong pressure pressed Xie Zhiweiâs face tightly against Mu Heâs chest. He could clearly hear the otherâs heartbeats: frantic and powerful, a complete contrast to Mu Heâs light and airy tone.
âFour years ago, your heart stilled and you stopped breathing just like this in my arms. Disciple was so sad. Now shizun is back, but disciple is still so sadâŚshizun, donât you have anything to say to disciple?â
Xie Zhiwei only felt he was about to suffocate to death, his face expressionless. Originally I wanted to apologize for all sorts of things, but nowâŚyou should just kill me instead. He grasped his last trace of divine sense and tried to contact the System.
At that moment, he seemed to hear a person speak.
âIs anyone heeeere? Benefactor, are you inside?â
What a familiar female voice.
Itâs Tantai Meng!
Wasnât she locked up in the Demonic Sect? How did she flee and find her way here?
Xie Zhiwei was so touched that he almost cried. Looks like I didnât spoil her in vain! At a critical moment, she actually ran over to rescue me. Itâs like sending charcoal in snow! No, an entire boiler!
Mu He naturally heard Tantai Meng as well. He grasped Xie Zhiwei and looked sullenly at the door leading outside. The green light above the courtyard trembled slightly as if someone was trying to break through the boundary field of Qingping Sword. Soon enough, a thin layer of golden light rose up from a corner to cling to the green light. Everywhere it went, it nibbled through the barrier until it was nearly transparent. Though its progress was slow, the effects were visible to the naked eye.
Xie Zhiwei saw the scene and vaguely recalled a godly metaphor he heard when first meeting Gallant Outlaw.
Like butterfly-winged pads falling from the sky!
He was so happy his brows relaxed. Noticing this, Mu He seemed to recall something and gripped his chin fiercely. âThat white-robed femaleâŚâ
Xie Zhiwei made a noise in his throat and creased his brows again before struggling with all his might. But Mu He pressed him down in an instant, his voice low and dark as it squeezed out from between clenched teeth.
âWhen disciple first went to Ascension City with shizun, she was the one I saw by the river, right? She actually didnât die⌠Now I understand, why shizun wanted me to wear whiteâŚâ
Youâre the hero, sheâs the heroine. Whatâs wrong with wearing matching couplesâ robes?! Xie Zhiwei complained mentally as he strove to raise his head from Mu Heâs lap. As he prepared to explain, his eyes suddenly widened.
The qi of Black Lotus had split into strands like silken thread to drill into his mouth and nose. Once inside his body, it spread out and completely filled his divine consciousness. Xie Zhiweiâs vision went black as he opened his mouth to cough, but failed. It seemed like his body was being drained of all strength.
âUnfilialâŚdiscipleâŚâ he fell back bonelessly, eyes closing against his will.
Mu He caught him in his lap and murmured, âShizun should rest in peace. Disciple will go see just whatâs so good about her to make shizun treat her likeâŚâ He stopped there. There was no way shizun could harbor any feelings about anyone else.
As long as shizun was alive and well in this world, that was something he couldnât tolerate!
But as he gazed at the person in his arms, his heart suddenly burst with fear. Xie Zhiweiâs current state was too much like the body that had slowly turned cold in his arms four years ago. Mu Heâs hands shook uncontrollably as he exclaimed in alarm, âShizun!â
At once, White and Black Lotus dissipated while he gingerly placed Xie Zhiwei on the ground without blinking an eye. It wasnât until he felt the warm, steady breaths from his masterâs nose that his heart finally settled in his chest. In just these few moments, his forehead had been covered in sweat.
Mu He shut his eyes and said in a pained voice, âButâŚdisciple doesnât know how to act, either. Even you canât teach this disciple how, rightâŚâ
He took a deep breath before picking up Xie Zhiwei princess-style and setting him carefully on the bed. Golden Lotus was still fighting against the boundary field, but Mu He ignored it completely to stare drunkenly at Xie Zhiweiâs face. Because he was unconscious, Xie Zhiweiâs expression looked extremely peaceful. His features were gentle to begin with and he had a clear, elegant temperament. There was no sign of the cold and detached look he wore while awake.
Mu Heâs fingertips caressed his face before easily prying apart the two thin lips. He drew closer and closer until he touched them with his own.
â
Translatorâs Note: Will Tantai Meng survive her confrontation with the local vinegar jar? Will Mu He just keep kissing and kissing his shizun? Will Xie Zhiwei find a way to drag Gallant Outlaw out of the System to thrash him once and for all? Find out all this and more in future releases of Too Bad Master Died Early!
P.S. Guess WHAT, I actually found some fanart of this series online! Unfortunately I canât access the actual site, but I know the artist name is @ĺŻéŞ_qErReg
Seeing what happened in this chapter, this callback pic to Ch 49 seems especially relevant (though itâd be more canon accurate to flip the pic~)
And give poor Mu He some time folks. Heâll learnâŚhe has toâŚ