“The person you love… who is it?”
Hearing this question ring out so clearly beside his ear, the young master—who had never before bared his soul—felt his cheeks flush a burning crimson. He was completely oblivious to the shift in the man’s demeanor.
Chu Ling didn’t even know why he had suddenly become so bold. Perhaps it was because this wasn’t the Sword Casting Villa or the Martial Arts Alliance, so he didn’t need to overthink his words. Or perhaps, he simply didn’t want anyone to misunderstand the “bright moon and clear wind” figure that occupied his entire heart.
Only that person was the most beloved one buried deep within his soul.
Though he felt guilty for deceiving Ghost Big Brother, he was unwilling to compromise even a fraction on this matter. To do so would be disloyal to his feelings for his beloved, even if those feelings were entirely one-sided…
At this thought, Chu Ling’s eyes dimmed slightly, but he quickly shook his head to bolster his spirit.
When his gaze met the man’s again and remembered the question, his cheeks grew even hotter. He lowered his head hurriedly, his voice halting and thick with the bashfulness of someone speaking of their crush.
“Cult Leader, please do not ask further. In any case, it is not Ghost Big Brother. I hope you will not misunderstand…”
“Who is it?”
The man’s voice dropped another octave.
Unaware that he was dancing on the edge of a volcano, the youth still didn’t notice the danger. His mind was filled with late-blooming embarrassment. He simply assumed the man was being persistent because of some request Ghost Big Brother had made.
He calmed the heat in his face and let out a soft breath before speaking apologetically: “Did Ghost Big Brother ask the Cult Leader to play matchmaker? I’m sorry… my heart already belongs to someone else. I cannot accept his feelings. Ghost Big Brother deserves someone better…”
Since the truth was out, Chu Ling decided to make things clear with Ghost Big Brother through the Cult Leader. It would be better for both of them. With the Cult Leader as a witness, he believed Ghost Big Brother would understand.
Besides, his objective for infiltrating the sect was complete. There was no longer a need to deceive Ghost Big Brother; confessing now actually made his heart feel much lighter.
“That person… Who is it?”
The voice, now low to the point of a growl, continued to murmur. Behind the silver mask, those narrow eyes seemed to glint with an eerie, hidden red. The previous playfulness and interest had vanished entirely.
“Who is it!?”
Having finally cooled down, the youth finally sensed something was wrong. He lifted his head slightly and saw the man’s current state. His nerves snapped tight instantly.
“Cult… Leader?”
The man before him now gave off a feeling far more terrifying than when he had first entered the room.
The youth didn’t understand how he had changed so suddenly, as if he had suffered a “qi deviation.” Sensing extreme danger, Chu Ling wasn’t so naive as to stay put when the situation turned sour.
“Cult Leader, if you are feeling unwell, I can come back another day,” Chu Ling said considerately, while his feet quietly shuffled backward.
But his movement acted like a trigger. His vision darkened, and in a blur of motion, his back slammed hard against a pillar—
The slender youth was pinned between the tall man and the pillar. The translucent jade flute was pressed against his delicate chin, forcing him to tilt his head up.
Cool fingertips slid down the youth’s upturned cheek. Though the movement was gentle, the skin they touched felt as if it were being seared by an electric current.
“Come, tell me… the person you love… who exactly is it?”
Behind the silver mask traced with gold, those bloodshot, eerie eyes narrowed, reflecting a bone-chilling cold light.
“Not going to say? Then…”
The mask was pushed up slightly. A familiar jawline flashed before the youth’s eyes. Before he could react, his lips were covered by two soft, scorching surfaces…
The extreme sweetness was enough to make one sink into oblivion, as if drowning. The man lost control of his strength, the kiss becoming deeper and more violent, as if he truly intended to devour the youth whole.
Transparent moisture escaped the corners of their lips, sliding down in an ambiguous trail to his snow-white chin before dripping onto the floor.
His tongue felt numb. The stinging sensation finally brought the youth back to his senses. With trembling fingers, he gathered every ounce of strength he had left and shoved the man away—
Pop.
The slight sound of their lips parting was lingering and intimate.
The youth leaned against the pillar, panting. His lips were abnormally red, looking like they were bleeding, a testament to what had just occurred.
Before the man could react, the youth spoke at lightning speed: “C-Cult Leader, your state is not right. I’ll take my leave now. Goodbye—!”
He didn’t even care for honorifics anymore.
The moment the words left his mouth, he dashed past the man. Fortunately, he wasn’t stopped. He reached the door, pulled it open, and his slender figure disappeared into the hallway in a flurry of panic.
However, before he could get far, he slammed into another wall of muscle. The momentum sent him reeling backward. Just as he was about to fall, an arm caught his waist, pulling him into an embrace once more.
A familiar, deep, magnetic voice sounded by his ear.
“Ling-er? Why so… reckless?”
The middle of the sentence seemed to trail off. Ghost Mask stared at the youth’s swollen, vivid lips, his eyes darkening.
The youth looked up blankly and saw the familiar “Ghost” mask.
“Ghost Big Brother?” he murmured uncertainly. His mind involuntarily flashed back to the lower half of the face he had just seen—it had been so familiar. He had almost thought the Cult Leader was…
He suddenly reached out and gently removed the mask. The man allowed the movement without dodging.
The mask came off, revealing the handsome, deep-set face the youth had seen many times—the face he knew as Ghost Big Brother.
Then just now… the Cult Leader… Did I see wrong?
The youth was momentarily confused, his mind a mess. But his tightly wound nerves finally began to relax.
Seeing the change in the youth’s expression, Ghost Mask took the boy’s wrist in his palm, feeling it like a piece of soft, fine jade. He couldn’t bring himself to let go.
His eyes remained dark as he asked lowly, “Ling-er, what happened?”
His gaze stayed fixed on the youth’s reddened lips. Coupled with the boy’s panic, the truth was as clear as day—obvious and piercing.
At the question, Chu Ling’s cheeks flared red, then turned pale. His eyes wavered, and his lips parted as if to speak, but he ultimately shut them tight. He changed the subject: “Ghost Big Brother, I’ve seen the Cult Leader now. Let’s go back quickly. I don’t want to stay here.”
Ghost Mask looked at the youth’s intentionally dodging eyes. It felt as if a giant boulder had been pressed onto his heart. A rage he had never felt before surged from the depths of his soul.
But in the end, he lowered his eyes, hiding the roaring, catastrophic emotions until no one could see them.
He curled his lips into a faint smile and said softly to the youth, “Alright. Let’s go back.”