Lu Guanyan naturally loved it when Xiao Biehe spoke to him any words would do, even if he were being scolded. But the “beauty” did not scold him. Instead, for reasons he couldn’t name, Lu Guanyan felt even more uneasy, as if something terrible was about to happen.
The world-renowned “little madman” grew nervous, stammering as if he were the prey rather than the hunter. He stammered a lie: “I… those kinds of storybooks are out of stock. I could only buy this kind.”
In truth, there were plenty they were everywhere on the streets now. People are like that: in times of peace, they fear a lack of chaos, yet they also long to see the “favored son of heaven” fall, to see a person clad in white stained with filth and reduced to misery. Little do they know who it is that allows them to live their quiet lives. Or perhaps they know but don’t care. To them, if one unreachable genius falls, another will surely rise to protect them.
When you are excellent, they look up to you. But when you are too excellent, and the whole world recognizes you as a genius, they begin to feel resentful. They scheme to see if the genius will stumble, longing for the star to fall. Such is human nature.
And Lu Guanyan, notorious across every nation, was just as famous as Xiao Biehe. Naturally, he had become the other permanent protagonist in the series of storybooks dedicated to defiling the genius. Now that Xiao Biehe had been slapped with criminal charges and had finally fallen from grace, the variety of sordid, imaginary tales about tainting the genius had multiplied, becoming even more extreme. Anyone could now cast themselves as the one doing the defiling.
Lu Guanyan no longer had the heart to tease the beauty. Worried it would hurt him; he hadn’t intended for Xiao Biehe to find out. It was only then that Lu Guanyan remembered he, too, had already harmed his greatest benefactor.
The little madman felt a surge of shame and regret for his past actions. Yet, if given the chance to do it again, Lu Guanyan felt he would do the same; he simply couldn’t help himself. He had endured for many years, and finally having the courage and ability to stand before Xiao Biehe, all his restraint vanished. Only a primal, beast-like instinct remained.
Like a moth to a flame, he wanted to throw himself at Xiao Biehe, even though he knew it was wrong, and even though he knew the fate of a moth is to end in nothingness. A toad is never meant to have a noble swan. But the little madman couldn’t control it, and he didn’t want Xiao Biehe to go to his death.
Seeing the scene of Xiao Biehe’s “death” had made Lu Guanyan want to gouge out his own eyes. But upon opening them, he felt it was the eyes of those who harmed Xiao Biehe that truly deserved to be gouged out! They weren’t worthy of his sacrifice. They all deserved to die!
Xiao Biehe sensed the surging murderous intent coming from the youth. He put down his book and looked up. “You haven’t answered my previous question.”
Did he like him or not?
Lu Guanyan froze. The killing intent vanished instantly. His hands and eyes shifted unnaturally. “…I’m not telling you!”
His blue, crystal-like eyes darted around, landing by chance on the page Xiao Biehe had been reading a passage about legends of the Wuyi clan from hundreds of years ago. Fearing he had bought the wrong book, Lu Guanyan had skimmed it from cover to cover. It was filled with fantastical myths: stories of virtuous people ascending to godhood, poisonous snakes turning into demons, and blessed lands vanishing due to human greed.
The Wuyi clan was recorded alongside demons and monsters because, before their extinction, they were viewed as demonic due to their supernatural abilities and sorcery. Years ago, when the Emperor of Yan slaughtered his entire clan and burned his mother alive, the world praised him as a “Sovereign of the Ages” for eradicating evil.
Lu Guanyan smiled, revealing his sharp, white fangs. He picked up the book and sat beside Xiao Biehe. “Brother, do you know the secret of the Wuyi clan?”
Xiao Biehe turned his gaze toward him and shook his head.
“Legend says,” Lu Guanyan began, “that the chief of each generation is chosen by heaven. Since my clansmen are all dead, I am the chief of this generation. The one chosen by heaven possesses a ‘divine nature.’ It is said their heart’s blood can save the one they love.”
No one had ever succeeded, so whether it was true or false remained unknown. It was just a legend.
The little madman gave a radiant smile. He took Xiao Biehe’s hand and placed it over his own heart. “By that logic, I suppose I am a ‘chosen one.’ Brother, don’t you think we’re actually quite a match?”
Xiao Biehe looked at him quietly, sensing he had found his answer. Seeing his silence, Lu Guanyan instinctively felt the beauty thought him delusional. A wave of inferiority and grievance rushed in from all sides. His expression turned fierce as he pinned Xiao Biehe down on the bed.
Before pressing down, fearing he would hurt Xiao Biehe’s wounds, he quickly used his hands to shield him. Then, becoming fierce once more, he kissed Xiao Biehe’s lips with a mix of aggression and vulnerability like a wolf pup abandoned by its master.
Xiao Biehe had no strength and didn’t push him away. He allowed his mouth to be pried open. The kiss alternating between gentle and rough left him breathless.
It lasted for an unknown amount of time. Xiao Biehe felt that if the youth didn’t let go, he truly wouldn’t be able to breathe. The culprit’s own breathing was a mess, acting on pure instinct without a shred of technique, like an uncontrolled cub.
The cub gradually regained his reason. Even though he had done what he wanted, he began to feel aggrieved again. His face was full of dissatisfaction and sorrow. His blue eyes were misty yet fierce. He pulled away from the beauty’s lips, and a hot tear fell onto Xiao Biehe’s face.
Xiao Biehe was truly bewildered now.
Lu Guanyan growled through his tears: “You clearly don’t like it, so why didn’t you push me away? I didn’t have you tied up this time!”
Xiao Biehe: “…”
Once his breathing stabilized, Xiao Biehe looked at the red-eyed youth pinned on top of him and said softly, “Do whatever you wish to do. I am not unwilling.”
The little madman froze, eyes wide. Then, his face hardened again. “What are you agreeing to? I’m very bad. I really will force myself on you!”
Xiao Biehe didn’t flinch, meeting his gaze. “Mm. Then do it. I’m much better than last night; I probably won’t die.”
Lu Guanyan stared at him, at a loss. Just then, Xiao Biehe reached up and wiped the tears from the youth’s eyes. He asked with a light smile, “You don’t want to?”
Lu Guanyan snapped out of it and shook his head. He didn’t want to hurt Xiao Biehe, nor did he want Xiao Biehe to hate him more. “Brother,” he said, “come with me. I’ll take you out of Liang. You shouldn’t stay here. Once you’ve recovered, you can go anywhere and do anything. If you still hate me then, you can even kill me!”
As soon as he finished, his lower body was touched by two hands.
Xiao Biehe’s fever hadn’t fully broken, so his hands were still warm. Lu Guanyan suddenly felt as though he were burning, too. His entire body tensed and froze.
Then he heard Xiao Biehe say: “I’m not very good at this. You can teach me.”
Lu Guanyan was incredulous. His brain buzzed as if struck by lightning. He stammered, trying to flee: “I… I didn’t want it that much…”
Xiao Biehe whispered, “Don’t move.”
Lu Guanyan truly didn’t dare move another inch. He remained propped over Xiao Biehe, feeling as though he were about to explode.
A long time passed. Outside, the sun was high in the sky. Xiao Biehe let out a sigh of relief. Lu Guanyan also felt a sense of release, though he remained stiff, nearly petrified.
What had he done? How could he…
How could Xiao Biehe help him like that?
It felt… real.
Lu Guanyan felt filthy. The beauty was always like this—even though Lu Guanyan knew it was impossible, Xiao Biehe neither rejected nor distanced himself, giving Lu Guanyan the illusion that he still had a chance.
“Brother.” After being “offline” for a while, Lu Guanyan returned to a normal state and took Xiao Biehe’s hands. They were still stained with his fluids. He carefully wiped them clean, his heart fluttering like never before. He pressed himself against the beauty again, holding him close.
“I cannot go with you,” Xiao Biehe said.
Lu Guanyan’s excited brain was struck with another blow. Xiao Biehe looked at him, his cool voice serious. “If you need me to use my mouth to help you as well, I can try again. If you want to truly, do it, we will. But I cannot go with you.”
The wolf pup, who had just been given a great treat, felt a deeper grievance. He asked dejectedly, “Why? Is it because I saved you and you want to draw a line between us?”
“No.”
Xiao Biehe thought to himself: If only I weren’t who I am, if only we hadn’t met this way. Perhaps I truly would be willing to go with him.
“You are very good,” Xiao Biehe said aloud. “I’m not trying to avoid you, but it is simply impossible between us. The Emperor has been plotting to catch the General’s Estate in a mistake; he won’t miss this chance. I am the one he wants to kill most. If I don’t return, the entire Estate will suffer. I cannot go.”
“The General’s Estate again!” Lu Guanyan snarled. “Is it not better for them to die? They weren’t even good to you!”
“But,” Xiao Biehe replied, “that is my father, my mother, and my younger brother. How can I watch them die?”
“And what about you?” Lu Guanyan asked with red eyes. “You know the Emperor wants to kill you. If you go back, you will surely die!”
Xiao Biehe remained silent.
“Speak!” Lu Guanyan roared at him.
Xiao Biehe gave a helpless smile. “Trading my life for theirs… that is the best ending. Consider it a debt paid for the life they gave me.”
“Then what about me?” Tears poured from the madman’s eyes again. His blue pupils deepened in color, as if he were falling into a trance. “Brother is so righteous and compassionate can you not spare a bit for me? What will I do?”
Xiao Biehe hesitated for a moment before reaching out to pat the youth’s head. “Am I not still in your hands? You can do everything you want to do to me these next few days. After that, leave Liang. Don’t come back, and don’t risk your life to save me again.”
Lu Guanyan thought to himself: My ‘Beauty Brother’ truly is compassionate. Even in deciding to die, he didn’t forget a villain like me who took advantage of him!
Perhaps if I went and killed everyone he cared about, he would be willing to come with me.
Lu Guanyan curled his lip in a hateful smile. “Fine. Then let’s use Brother’s mouth again.”
Though Xiao Biehe had been engaged for years, he had never even held hands with anyone else. His only contact of this nature was with the youth before him. For him, it had already exceeded his limits of endurance. He could not escape; he would not escape.
By the end, it wasn’t just his hands his face was also covered in the other’s fluids. His cool, stunning face was streaked with thin tears, and his clothes were a wrinkled mess. He looked thoroughly bullied. Realizing what he had done, Lu Guanyan panicked completely, not knowing what to do.
Lu Guanyan brought the best medicines and provided the most attentive care. Xiao Biehe’s wounds healed quickly. In just two more days, he went from the brink of death to being able to move freely.
However, Lu Guanyan kept a very close watch on him, refusing to let him leave the room and staying by his side every second. He even bought a silver chain to lock him up. Xiao Biehe didn’t resist.
When the youth was away, however, the small inn could not hold Xiao Biehe. Knowing how tightly he was being watched, he knew something must have happened.
Xiao Biehe visited several places. Every wall was covered with the “crimes” of the General’s Estate and warrants for his arrest. The air was thick with the voices of commoners cursing him. He had asked the youth if anything had happened outside, but the boy had refused to tell him.
“I said long ago he had the heart of a rebel. See? He couldn’t help himself.” “The General’s Estate suffered an undeserved disaster. All because of this ungrateful wretch, hundreds of people are in prison and might be beheaded.” “I heard that as soon as he returned to Liang, he couldn’t wait to mess around with that madman. The Crown Prince is so excellent could he not satisfy him? What does that madman Lu Guanyan have that’s so special?” “Special… you’d have to experience it to know! Hahaha! Regardless, he is a real beauty. Seeing as he hasn’t come out in days, he’s probably been bedded until he’s broken. I wish I could have a taste!”
Xiao Biehe blocked out the voices and stepped forward to tear down the warrant. He had expected this, but seeing it with his own eyes still brought a suffocating pain. The tragedy was that he had never had anything, and now, no one in the world believed in him.
“He… he is… Xiao Biehe? The traitor of the General’s Estate?” “Shh! Run! Did you forget the beggars in the south? Careful he doesn’t target you for silence!”
The crowd pushed and shoved, retreating in terror. Some spoke of reporting him to the authorities. Just as Xiao Biehe’s hand was about to touch the warrant, a powerful, angry hand caught his.
As the crowd grew, Lu Guanyan’s gaze swept across them, cold enough to kill. “Keep looking, and I’ll gouge your eyes out!”
The onlookers fled in panic. Once they were gone, Xiao Biehe looked at the chilling youth, wondering how to face him next. He had prepared himself to endure anything the other desired days ago.
But the moment the youth turned his face, all the coldness vanished. He looked dazed. He let go of Xiao Biehe’s hand, looking as if he wanted to hold him quietly for a while, but the environment didn’t allow it. Finally, he simply scooped Xiao Biehe up in a bridal carry.
“Brother, don’t listen to them. It’s not safe here. I’ll take you somewhere else to rest. Don’t go back.”
Xiao Biehe pushed him lightly. “Put me down. The world is full of the eyes and ears of the Emperor and the Prince. They’ve reported us; the authorities will be here soon. I came out today intending to go back. I’ve burdened you again.”
Lu Guanyan shook his head, holding him tighter and resting his chin against Xiao Biehe’s cheek. “Brother, do you blame me? If I hadn’t kidnapped you, you wouldn’t be a traitor. And I… I treated you like that.”
Xiao Biehe’s calculation was correct. Before they had gone far, they were surrounded first by local bailiffs, then by the Imperial Guards and men from the Eastern Palace. Emerging from behind the sea of guards was a man in a black robe with gold embroidery, his expression meticulous and radiating the authority of the Liang Heir: Mu Yunfei.
“Your Highness! It’s him! Xiao Biehe betrayed you long ago; he’s been with that man all these days! I caught them a few days ago, and Xiao Biehe had his new lover break my arm!” Mo Sang ran out from the crowd, standing behind Mu Yunfei with a venomous, triumphant tone.
Mu Yunfei let out a cold laugh, his sharp eyes like those of a venomous snake fixed on Xiao Biehe. He raised a finger toward those behind him.
“Seize them.”