He was so nervous that his mind went blank, making it easy for his thoughts to wander; consequently, he did not hear those few sentences clearly. It sounded like he was talking about… a journey west? Fear?
Shen Shangling did not move. He was, in fact, quite terrified. He could feel the deep, oppressive, and icy chill in Lu Xiao’s gaze as it rested upon him.
“What is it?” Seeing him remain motionless and frozen in place, a sinister, gloating smile flashed across Lu Xiao’s eyes. As expected, a little humiliation was enough to make this man lose his soul. It was truly a delight to slowly break away the fragile, fake backbone of this pathetic, so-called famous scholar.
He paced forward step by step. With a single lift and downward press of his hand, the long blade still in its scabbard was pressed heavily onto Shen Shangling’s shoulders. He smiled silently as he watched the man’s frame suddenly collapse under the weight.
The cold scabbard slid slowly across Shen Shangling’s shoulder, pressing inch by inch against his neck. Shen Shangling shuddered at the touch of the cold steel. His posture, already nearly prone under the pressure of the long sword, trembled, and he became so tense he could barely breathe.
Lu Xiao’s presence was overwhelmingly oppressive. As the tall, lean figure moved toward him step by step, back against the light, the shadow seemed capable of swallowing a person whole. Shen Shangling felt that his fragile neck would likely snap if this man were to give it a light tap. However, he also understood that Lu Xiao harbored intense hatred for the original owner of this body; unless the humiliation was sufficient, Lu Xiao would not easily kill him.
Just then, Lu Xiao suddenly lifted the long blade slightly, using the tip of the scabbard to tilt Shen Shangling’s chin upward. Shen Shangling was forced to raise his face. The study was brightly lit with candles. Under the flickering candlelight, his skin appeared whiter than fine porcelain, and his trembling eyelashes cast fine shadows, making his features look even more exquisite. He was breathtakingly beautiful.
Lu Xiao squinted his eyes, a flicker of imperceptible shock flashing through them. When he had gone to Qiyu Courtyard earlier, his heart had been filled with thoughts of poisonous scorpions, and he had wanted nothing more than to tear this man to pieces. He hadn’t paid attention before… Why did this man seem so much younger-looking? He knew the man had a handsome appearance, but he had never noticed such things in the past—after all, a pretty face was just a face, not a skill honed through hard work. It was the man’s talent in writing and painting that had once garnered some begrudging respect.
For the first time, he truly noticed the man’s appearance. Yet, despite looking slightly younger, it was still the same person; why did he suddenly feel an inexplicable sense of strangeness, as if something about him was no longer the same person as before? Was it the eyes?
Lu Xiao’s gaze swept across Shen Shangling’s brows and eyes, and he squinted. Once humiliated, can a person truly change so much in spirit and bearing?
That moment of stunned silence lasted only a second. Lu Xiao soon recalled the man’s hypocrisy, despicable nature, and cruelty in his past life, and his eyes darkened again. A surge of rage burned in his heart, as if it had been ignited from the depths of the underworld.
“At this moment, sir, you have lost that previous arrogant spirit,” Lu Xiao said, his voice unhurried as he slid the scabbard from Shen Shangling’s neck down along his cheek. “Being so weak and compliant, like a willow in the wind, it actually stirs a sense of pity in me.”
Shen Shangling: “…” Bah. This man was humiliating him while deliberately calling him “sir” with every breath—he was truly vicious to the core.
“Since you are now willing to serve me, and you are a condemned slave,” Lu Xiao suddenly smiled, tapping the tip of the scabbard gently against Shen Shangling’s face, “it is no longer appropriate to use your original name. Naturally, it is for me to give you a new one. Don’t you agree, sir?”
Shen Shangling: “…” Just wait until I turn things around, you duck-brained fool. I’ll change your name for you, too.
“Your skin is whiter than snow, and you are enchantingly beautiful,” Lu Xiao did not wait for him to respond. He gave a silent smile, used the scabbard to lift a lock of Shen Shangling’s disheveled hair, and continued, “And since you will be serving in the bedchamber hereafter, why don’t I bestow upon you four words: ‘Snow Demon of the Bedchamber.’ How does that sound?”
As he spoke, Lu Xiao slid the scabbard down to catch Shen Shangling’s belt. With a sudden, swift twist of his hand, he yanked the man up from the floor. Shen Shangling was caught off guard; the force hooked his waist, and he was lifted right off his feet. He subconsciously struggled, only stabilizing himself once his feet hit the floor. He was so startled he nearly let out a string of profanities.
Once Lu Xiao saw he had steadied himself, he flicked the scabbard, and with a clack, it landed perfectly back into the scabbard holder on the rack. Now, without the scabbard, the long blade in his hand revealed its razor-sharp edge.
“From this day forward,” Lu Xiao said, the tip of the blade pointing at Shen Shangling’s chest, “I shall call you ‘Snow Demon.’ I hope you will keep that firmly in mind, hmm?”
Before he finished speaking, the long blade in his hand lashed out.
“Ah!” Shen Shangling saw a flash of white light and thought for a moment his head was about to be shorn off, so he couldn’t help but cry out.
Immediately after, he felt a looseness at his waist and chest. The gaudy, flamboyant outer robe he was wearing had been slashed to pieces by the blade’s arc and slid silently to the floor, piling up at his feet. He subconsciously looked down and realized he was left wearing only his undergarments. He didn’t know where Lu Xiao had acquired this set of clothes; the outer robe was gaudy, but it was paired with a thin, translucent inner layer. When he had dressed, he had been made to change everything. Now, under the candlelight, the inner layer—thin as a cicada’s wing—might as well have not been there at all… Or rather, it would have been better if he weren’t wearing anything.
“Snow Demon,” Lu Xiao stared at him gloomily. “Undress me.”
Shen Shangling: “…”
“Hmm?” Lu Xiao snapped his hand, and the long blade flew through the air, landing with a soft clack back into its scabbard on the rack.
“…Yes, Your Highness.” Shen Shangling was stunned, but quickly regained his senses and agreed, holding his nose, so to speak. The man has heaven-defying martial prowess. I surrender.
Fortunately, perhaps because Lu Xiao had just returned from Jibei and was exhausted from the journey, he didn’t do anything else. He told Shen Shangling to undress him, but after letting him remove his top garment, he waved his hand and dismissed him to a small footstool nearby.
“Serve me from right there,” Lu Xiao commanded coldly. “If I need anything in the night, I will call you. Be alert. Serving someone requires the proper skills. If you cannot even do this well, I will have someone teach you properly.” He gave a silent smile. “Oh, not ‘sir’ anymore. It should be ‘Snow Demon’.”
Shen Shangling whispered his agreement… Go to sleep already, you dog of a Prince!
On the bed, Lu Xiao seemed to fall into a deep sleep before long. Shen Shangling sat on the small footstool, carefully and slowly straightened his legs, and let out a long, light sigh of relief. He used to think it was just a soap-opera trope when he saw maids in period dramas sleeping on footstools by their masters’ beds. Now, he was the trope. Tsk. Transmigration is going poorly.
Lu Xiao’s breathing was steady and even. However, Shen Shangling dared not go over to “vent his anger.” He knew full well that if he made the slightest move, not to mention the hidden guards, Lu Xiao himself—a god of war who had fought for years could snap his neck in an instant. He wanted to live, not die.
As the night deepened, it was warm during the day, but chilly at night. Shen Shangling quietly pulled over a fallen bed curtain and carefully wrapped himself in it. After wrapping up, he paused: Good grief, I really am a ‘Snow Demon of the Bedchamber’ now.
Steadying his nerves, he called out to the system in his mind. The system did not respond. Ever since Lu Xiao returned, this little system had been dead quiet. He had a hunch that this lousy system was a coward. The moment Lu Xiao emitted his cold aura, the system vanished. When he was scared, this little system was even quieter than he was.
Shen Shangling looked down on that cowardly system in his heart, then tried to communicate with the little earth bee. Fortunately, once the spiritualization was successful, he could communicate with his spiritual creation whenever he wished. Sure enough, a feeling of deep concern from the little fat bug drifted through the night air.
Shen Shangling’s nose ached: I’ll never look down on this little fat bug again; it’s a thousand times better than that dog of a Prince. The little bug’s concern warmed Shen Shangling’s heart; he suppressed his grievances and returned a comforting emotion. The communication made the little bug immediately excited.
Not long after, Shen Shangling heard a tiny sound. His vision was excellent now; in the night, he quickly spotted the little fat bug crawling toward him.
Shen Shangling: “…” Looking at the little fat bug that had reached his feet, Shen Shangling pursed his lips, steeled his heart, and quietly extended his hand toward it. With a soft hum, the little fat bug landed on his palm. At the same time, a feeling of pure joy washed over him. His palm felt a bit itchy. He reached out with his other hand and gently poked the little fat guy with his fingertip. The little fat bug tilted in his palm, then happily spun in a circle.
Shen Shangling couldn’t help but curve his lips: My own kind. My own bug.
This was also why he hadn’t dared to contact the little bug while being bullied by Lu Xiao. He was afraid his own emotions would affect the little bug and that the little bug would directly attack Lu Xiao. Not only was Lu Xiao’s martial prowess high, but the Prince’s residence was crawling with guards. If the little bug provoked Lu Xiao, it would certainly be crushed to powder, and the new home it had brought its friends to would likely be destroyed as well. Even if the little bug could revive, it would still hurt… The little fellow would feel pain, wouldn’t it?
He had to improve his situation by relying on himself. He still needed more communication with the little bug to gradually uncover his spiritualization derivative abilities. For now, he had to protect the little bug and its new home. After tonight, once Lu Xiao’s post-rebirth rage subsided a little, he would find an opportunity to bring up the soap.
Thinking this, Shen Shangling poked the little fat bug gently again: Go back. Time to sleep. The little fat bug wrapped around him with a lingering sense of reluctance. Urged by Shen Shangling, the little fat guy gave a soft hum and flew toward the window.
Shen Shangling had been worried that Lu Xiao would deliberately torment him. Having acted in domestic-strife dramas, he knew the little tricks used to make people miserable demanding tea or water just to keep them from sleeping. But clearly, Lu Xiao had no such petty intentions; Shen Shangling slept until the sky was just beginning to brighten.
He was woken up by the cold. Once awake, he realized he had fallen asleep on the floor, and the bed curtain he had wrapped around himself had come undone. As he moved, the person on the bed sat up abruptly. Shen Shangling was startled.
Lu Xiao’s gaze swept over him, exceptionally ruthless, the long, narrow corners of his eyes sharp as knife blades. When he saw Shen Shangling on the floor, he was stunned for a moment, then squinted, a hint of satirical gloom curling at the corners of his eyes.
“Snow Demon,” he said with a cold scoff, scanning the disheveled-looking Shen Shangling, “why haven’t you come over to serve me yet?”
Shen Shangling gritted his teeth and got up from the floor. He had been rolling on the floor all night, and his sleeping posture had been extremely distorted… to the extent that one of his legs was completely numb.
“Your Highness…” As he went to take the clothes from the rack, he said in a low voice, “Shall I wear… Ah!” Before he could finish, his unresponsive leg caught on something. His body swayed, he stumbled unsteadily, and after failing to steady himself and staggering back two more steps, he let out a cry of alarm and fell.
Thud.
He fell backward onto the bed. In the moment he went down, Shen Shangling couldn’t help but think: Oh. That’s a bit cliché.