Su Yu felt uncomfortable and lowered his head slightly, but Chu Liuxiang lifted his chin. Then, vision went dark before his eyes, and warmth touched his lips.
Looking at the man leaning in to kiss him, Su Yu lowered his eyes slightly, his hands trembling so much they seemed to have nowhere to rest.
Chu Liuxiang held his hand tightly, wrapping his other arm around his waist to pull him into his embrace. Warm lips pressed against Su Yu’s, cool meeting warm, intermingling in a deep kiss.
One slender, powerful palm lingered and caressed Su Yu’s waist, while the other reached up to touch his face, gently stroking it.
Inexperienced as Su Yu was, how could he be a match for Chu Liuxiang, a veteran in matters of love? He was quickly overwhelmed, letting out a soft sigh as his limbs went limp, collapsing into Chu Liuxiang’s arms.
Only when Chu Liuxiang left his lips did he open his glisten-tinged eyes, his gaze filled with confusion: “Brother Chu.”
Chu Liuxiang gently stroked Su Yu’s reddened lips, a tender smile in his eyes. “Muqing.”
He held Su Yu, his fingers lightly smoothing Su Yu’s waterfall-like long hair. “After you went back, did that master of yours hurt you?”
Su Yu’s body stiffened for a moment. He shook his head and whispered, “No.”
Chu Liuxiang released him and looked down at him. “Don’t hide it from me.”
His gaze swept over the front of Su Yu’s robe, and he subconsciously reached out toward his collar.
Before he could touch it, Su Yu grabbed his hand. “I really am fine.”
Chu Liuxiang looked at him with a firm gaze. “Let me see.”
Looking at his resolute eyes, Su Yu unconsciously loosened his grip. Chu Liuxiang gently pulled open his lapel. Upon his skin, so fair it was somewhat pale, was a striking scar stretching from his right shoulder down to the side of his waist. Judging by the injury, it appeared to have been caused by a whipping.
At this moment, there was no lust in Chu Liuxiang’s eyes, only heartache for him.
As his fingertips lightly touched the scar, Su Yu’s skin recoiled slightly. He seemed very unaccustomed to exposing his body in front of Chu Liuxiang and hurriedly tried to put his clothes back on.
Chu Liuxiang stopped his movement, reaching for the wound medicine on the side to apply it to him.
Su Yu said softly, “This medicine is useless for my injury.”
He raised his eyes to look at Chu Liuxiang. “I am really fine. This wound will fade away very soon.”
Chu Liuxiang extended his hand toward the mark, but just as he was about to touch it, he hurriedly drew his hand back, worried that he might hurt him. “Does it hurt?”
Su Yu shook his head. “It doesn’t hurt.”
With heartache in his eyes, Chu Liuxiang dressed him properly. He suddenly felt that he was utterly powerless. He had never felt this way before. This was the first time he truly experienced a sense of helplessness over something.
He pulled Su Yu into his arms with deep affection. “The person who saved us earlier was a Taoist priest. Once his injuries are healed, he will come here to eliminate the demon.”
Su Yu leaned in his arms without speaking, but Chu Liuxiang could still feel the momentary stiffness in the body of the person in his arms. He soothingly stroked his long hair. “Once the demon is removed, I will take you away from here.”
“Muqing, are you willing to leave with me?”
Su Yu looked up at him: “Are you not afraid of me?”
“Why should I be afraid of you?” Chu Liuxiang lowered his eyes, the corners of his lips curving into a soft, gentle smile. He raised his hand to gently caress Su Yu’s cool face. “In my heart, you are just Muqing, the Muqing who has always protected me and never harmed me.”
“What if I told you that I once thought about doing so?” Su Yu’s eyes began to blur, and he could no longer see Chu Liuxiang’s expression clearly. He only felt that Chu Liuxiang’s hands were so warm, gently stroking his face and wiping away the tears on it.
Chu Liuxiang seemed to let out a soft sigh. “But you didn’t do it, did you? I am in your heart.”
With his tears wiped away, Chu Liuxiang’s handsome brow and eyes came back into view. He was so gentle. Su Yu avoided his soft gaze. “That is not important.”
“It is very important,” Chu Liuxiang interrupted him. “I am certain that I am in your heart, and I am very happy.”
Su Yu pulled back from his embrace, staring straight at him for a long time before saying, “You should know that I am not like you.”
“There is nothing different.”
“It is different!” Su Yu suddenly became excited. “Of course it’s different!”
The look in his eyes as he stared at Chu Liuxiang was filled with sorrow. “I am already a dead person. Why do you care whether a dead person has you in his heart?”
Hearing this, Chu Liuxiang suddenly smiled. There was not the slightest hint of surprise in his eyes, but rather a settled sense of relief, as if the dust had finally landed. “I like you, so naturally I care whether you have me in your heart.”
“I am not human. As the saying goes, humans and ghosts tread different paths. Aren’t you afraid that one day I really will kill you?”
“To die beneath a peony flower makes one a dapper ghost.”
Su Yu looked at Chu Liuxiang with tears glistening in his eyes. He suddenly raised his arms to hug him and choked up, “You really are a fool.”
Chu Liuxiang held him tightly and smiled, “I won’t let myself die. I still have to take you away from here.”
Su Yu shook his head, stepped out of his embrace, and said with a serious expression: “When day breaks, I will take you away from here. With that Taoist priest around, he will definitely be able to lead you safely out of this town.”
“What about you?” Chu Liuxiang frowned. He caught his meaning; it seemed he didn’t intend to leave with him.
Su Yu pulled his lips into a faint smile. “Me? I am a ghost who has been dead for many years; this place is where I belong.”
“I…” A cool sleeve brushed past his cheek. Chu Liuxiang slowly closed his eyes, yet his hand remained tightly clutching Su Yu’s sleeve.
Su Yu gently stroked his face and whispered, “This is all I can do for you. Once you leave here, do not come back.”
Chu Liuxiang’s muddled brain instantly went dark. Muqing…
When Chu Liuxiang woke up, he found that he had returned to the inn. Holding his forehead, he sat up and saw Chi Yangzi with his back turned to him.
“Taoist Priest.”
Chi Yangzi turned around, saw that he was awake, and hurriedly poured him a cup of tea. “How are you feeling?”
“What happened to me?” The memory right before he fell unconscious suddenly rushed back into his mind, and Chu Liuxiang was startled. “Oh no! Muqing!”
He threw off the quilt and was about to leave, but Chi Yangzi said, “Where are you going?”
“I have to find Muqing. He must be in a terrible situation right now.”
“You’re facing disaster yourself, yet you still have time to worry about others,” Chi Yangzi sneered. Seeing that Chu Liuxiang was recklessly determined to search for him, he said helplessly, “It’s daytime right now; he won’t be in danger yet. Even if you go now, you won’t find anyone.”
Chi Yangzi sighed softly. “I didn’t expect that ghost to be so affectionate and loyal, to actually bring you to the town at the foot of the mountain and even beg me to take you away from here. Kid, this old Taoist is severely injured and hasn’t recovered yet, but taking you safely away from here is still no problem. Since you’re awake, pack up quickly; I’ll take you away right now.”
Chu Liuxiang shook his head in refusal. “Thank you for your kindness, Taoist Priest, but I cannot leave just yet.”
Chi Yangzi’s brows furrowed tightly, his eyes full of displeasure. “Kid, you are truly infatuated and obstinate! He is a ghost, and you are a human. Humans and ghosts walk different paths; you two can never be together, so stop indulging in wild fantasies.”
“Taoist Priest,” Chu Liuxiang looked at Chi Yangzi very earnestly, “if I run into danger while looking for Muqing, will you rescue me?”
Chi Yangzi snorted coldly, “Good advice falls on deaf ears! Since you’re courting death yourself, this old Taoist won’t save you!”
He stood up from his chair. “Consider it yourself. Although this old Taoist promised him that I would take you away from here, if you choose not to listen, it won’t count as me breaking my word.”
With that, he pushed open the door and walked out, no longer caring about what Chu Liuxiang would do.
“Taoist Priest,” Chu Liuxiang suddenly called out to him. “May I ask when you will fully recover?”
Chi Yangzi turned to look at him. “If you can find a five-hundred-year-old ginseng, my injuries might be fully healed.”
“If I really find a five-hundred-year-old ginseng for you, I hope that after you fully recover, you can eliminate that demon and help Muqing break free from its control.”
Chi Yangzi nodded in agreement. “That ghost doesn’t seem like an atrocious villain. Very well, I promise you.”
“Thank you.” Chu Liuxiang cupped his fists in gratitude. Then he saw Chi Yangzi hand him a talisman. “What is this?”
Chi Yangzi said, “I know you’re going to look for him, and this old Taoist can’t stop you. But for the sake of my five-hundred-year-old ginseng, take this talisman with you. It can suppress the human presence on you. Although it’s not super powerful, it will suffice to help you sneak into the deep mountains.”
Hearing this, Chu Liuxiang was overjoyed in his heart: “Thank you, Taoist Priest.”
After Chi Yangzi left, Chu Liuxiang sent a message to his friends. Soon, several carrier pigeons disappeared into the skyline.
Late at night, carrying the talisman given by Chi Yangzi, Chu Liuxiang silently snuck into the ruined temple on the mountain.
Su Yu sat on the bed, holding a fan in his hand, his eyes filled with longing: “Brother Chu.”
He closed the fan and pressed it against his cheek, a glisten of moisture glowing in his eyes.
“Isn’t looking at me better than looking at a folding fan?” Chu Liuxiang’s voice suddenly sounded from behind him.
Su Yu was instantly stunned, and then the light in front of him dimmed. Looking up, he saw Chu Liuxiang’s smiling eyes gazing at him.
“Brother Chu?” Su Yu muttered to himself. “Is this a dream?”
With a soft sigh, Chu Liuxiang pulled him into his arms. “It’s not a dream. I am here.”
“Brother Chu.” Su Yu threw his arms around his neck, but after regaining his senses, he hurriedly pushed him away: “Why are you here? Don’t you know it’s dangerous here? Leave quickly.”
“No rush.” Chu Liuxiang drew him into his embrace once more. “The Taoist Priest gave me a talisman paper to conceal my presence; I won’t be discovered. Don’t move, let me hold you.”
Su Yu stopped moving, obediently letting him hold him, a joyful smile all over his face.
Light kisses fell upon his cheek as Chu Liuxiang said, “The Taoist priest promised me that as long as I help him find a five-hundred-year-old ginseng as a medicinal guide, his injuries will fully recover. At that time, he will come to the mountain to eliminate the demon, and you will soon be free.”
“A five-hundred-year-old ginseng?” Su Yu was shocked and stunned. “A century-old ginseng is already very rare; where are you going to find a five-hundred-year-old one?”
Chu Liuxiang smiled: “I have many friends. A five-hundred-year-old ginseng will be found eventually.”
Su Yu looked at him with unease in his heart, feeling that he was troubling Chu Liuxiang’s friends all because of himself.
As if sensing what he was thinking, Chu Liuxiang said with a gentle smile: “Those friends of mine are all very happy to help me. Don’t worry.”
“What you should be thinking about now is where we should go after we leave this place. Is there anywhere you want to go?”
As if imagining the days after leaving this place, the corners of Su Yu’s lips curled up slightly: “I want to go see Jiangnan. I heard that it’s misty and rainy there, with small bridges and flowing water, just like a black-and-white ink wash painting. I have never been to Jiangnan before, and I don’t know what kind of scenery it has.”
“Jiangnan?” Chu Liuxiang nodded with a smile. “It is indeed a good place. Once we leave here, I’ll take you to Jiangnan. I have a large boat, and that will be our home from now on. I also have three younger sisters.”
Su Yu listened in silence, the smile on his face lingering for a long time without fading.