Chapter 75: Nian Yuzhuo
This time it was truly “dying before accomplishing one’s mission.” After continuously sitting on the floor crying for a full quarter hour, the iron-hearted Sect Leader still stood by watching. Forget about hugs, he didn’t even give a warm glance.
Li Dong was angry.
Extraordinarily angry.
The man who just yesterday was eating mouth-to-mouth with him, today upon suddenly learning he was a fake, immediately turned his back and refused to acknowledge him!
Which, to be fair, wasn’t wrong.
By that logic, not getting his legs broken was already a blessing.
“Uu…” Li Dong sniffled. “Sleepy…” Since no pity came from Nian Yuzhuo, he rubbed his eyes, toppled sideways, and curled up on the floor to sleep.
…The tiny, familiar snores reached Nian’s ears like a death knell, each one sawing through his gut.
Listening, he realized Li Dong had truly fallen asleep.
“Shadow…” Nian got one word out, then swallowed the rest. “…I’m out of my mind. What am I doing arguing with a fool?”
With that excuse to step down from his high horse, he went over and lifted Li Dong into his arms.
“Someone,” Nian said. “Prepare hot water and towels.”
He wrung out a plain cloth himself, washed Li Dong’s face and hands, and wiped away the tear tracks.
Outside the doors of Xiaofeng Hall.
“Serve him well,” Nian said, sweeping the maids with a glance.
Before they could kneel and answer, he was gone like the wind.
What does a man do when he’s heartsick? Bury himself in work.
“Any troublesome contracts recently?” He kicked open Master Mu’s courtyard door. “Give me two.”
“Greetings, Sect Leader,” Master Mu dropped to his knees and called for attendants. “Er, there are a few tough ones…” Business was never scarce in their line; walk the night road enough and you meet a few ghosts. “But, Leader, you…”
Since taking the seat, the leader hadn’t personally touched bloody work.
Truth be told, even as a Protector he didn’t need to.
Years back, when he was a hall master, he was famous for it, a daredevil.
The lives on his hands could scare straight a whole crop of upstart juniors.
“Cut the nonsense,” Nian said. “One more word and I’ll post you to Hui Feng Hall.”
“Understood,” Master Mu blurted. Hui Feng Hall was a barren, miserable posting.
Why had the leader’s mood turned so suddenly foul?
Only after handing over the slips did he hear from Protector Cai that the wedding had been called off for unknown reasons.
As for Young Lord Rongqing, everyone who’d reported at council these past few days had seen him.
A very pretty young lord, sadly a little… slow.
Anyone who frequented Fuqu Courtyard had a guess. A slow but beautiful young lord, nine times out of ten, the leader had brought him back through improper means.
Master Mu was mildly curious which house had been so unlucky.
But that was the leader’s business. Subordinates didn’t pry.
To save travel, Master Mu chose nearby jobs. With Nian Yuzhuo’s qinggong, six shichen round trip was plenty.
He returned deep into the night, travel-worn and reeking of blood.
“Sect Leader.” A maid’s greeting snapped him back. He’d walked to Xiaofeng Hall out of habit.
“Prepare hot water,” he said. “Send it to the guest room.” He pulled back the foot he’d placed inside and turned toward the guest quarters.
“Yuyu.” Li Dong stood just inside the door in an underrobe, eyes bright with hope. “Where did you go today?”
Six shichen meant 12 hours, a full day. He hadn’t seen Nian all day.
No one would tell him where the other had gone.
Well, of course. The whole sect treated him like a fool.
“Why are you barefoot?” Nian said, face tight. “Go rest. I don’t have time for you.”
“What are you going to do?” Li Dong stepped over the threshold toward him.
“Why are you so disobedient?” Nian found himself backing away, something he’d never done even against a mortal enemy.
“I’m obedient,” Li Dong said sweetly, tossing out a smoke bomb, then launched himself forward with a grin. “Yuyu!”
Nian “couldn’t resist” the lightning-fast pounce. He grunted as Li Dong hit him squarely.
“Yuyu?” Li Dong blinked. “Did I hurt you when I pounced?” His fingers looked clumsy but flicked Nian’s collar open in a flash.
He stared. How was the famed master injured?
“It’s nothing.” Nian immediately covered the wound. “A sword tip grazed me, that’s all.” A tiny flesh wound.
“Yuyu got into a fight?” Li Dong asked, worried. Then he did something that stunned Nian: he leaned in and blew gently. “Hoo hoo… pain fly away.”
“That helps?” Nian said coolly.
“It does.” Li Dong said, “If I blow on it, it won’t hurt anymore, right?”
While Nian wasn’t looking, he lifted the collar and blew twice, earnest to the core. “Doesn’t it hurt less now?”
“Pfft…” Against his own will, Nian nodded.
“Heehee.” Li Dong grinned like a little fool. “Ha-chee—” A huge sneeze. He hugged his arms and shivered. “Yuyu, cold.”
“Inside, quickly.” Nian shrugged off his outer robe and wrapped him. “Catch a chill and it could cost you your little life.”
“Mm. I’ll be good,” Li Dong said.
Nian’s heart gave another tug. He didn’t know what was happening to him.
“Yuyu,” Li Dong said. “Can I watch you wash up?”
Nian’s mouth twitched. “Why would you watch me… bathe…”
His face had already gone distorted; clearly, he wasn’t thrilled.
“Oh.” Li Dong said, “Then I won’t. I’ll be good and go to bed.” He toddled toward the big bed.
…I don’t mind, was what Nian didn’t get to say.
Nian Yuzuo took a deep breath, closed his eyes, turned, and entered the bathing room.
He didn’t care about the cut on his shoulder. Only the next day did he go to Fuqu Courtyard for Wan Muchun to dress it.
“Sect Leader?” Wan blanched. “Did Young Lord Rongqing injure you by accident?” Who else could possibly hurt Nian Yuzhuo?
Li Dong, munching fruit on the side, almost choked. Cough, cough… What did the leader’s injury have to do with him!
If you thought about it, it did.
If not for him stirring the pot, Nian wouldn’t be in a bad mood. Without the bad mood, he wouldn’t have taken jobs. Without jobs, no injury.
“No,” Nian denied crisply.
“Oh.” Wan had thought Li Dong had fallen out of favor, but this didn’t look like it. The leader still took his little tail everywhere.
And yet, if there was no fall from favor… why cancel the wedding?
Li Dong only learned two days later that the Sect Leader had unilaterally called off the wedding. Very good. He wasn’t angry at all.
These past two days he kept thinking, had his appearance already changed the original trajectory?
If so, when could he complete the mission and bow out?
He’d dated so many male leads. It was rare to meet one who wasn’t swayed by his “charm.” He was pleased, and a little tangled up.
He had, after all, chosen a very un-dazzling entrance. Of course the male-lead shou didn’t like it.
As for Zhang Junluo, after leaving Xuanyin he galloped back to Zixiao Sect and reported to Wang Muxin.
“Master…” he said, face full of shame. “This disciple was useless. I didn’t bring Third Junior Brother back.” He’d gone empty-handed and returned empty-handed, with nothing to show for it.
“What happened?” Wang asked. “Did the demonic sect refuse to release him or what?” Of all people, why had Xuanyin snatched his third disciple?
“The leader won’t admit he’s holding Lingya,” Zhang sighed. “But don’t worry, Master. Lingya shouldn’t be in danger… I heard in the sect that their leader plans to marry him.”
“What?” Wang’s face went from red to green. “You mean the demonic leader took a fancy to Lingya’s looks and abducted him to marry?” He knew it, beauty brings trouble.
“I’m not sure,” Zhang said, shaking his head. “Third Junior Brother is striking. The demonic leader taking a liking to him isn’t strange.” Now that Nian Yuzhuo knew Su Lingya was a fake, would he still go through with it?
“Outrageous…” Wang clenched a fist. “I’ll have to go myself.”
Zhang thought, you probably won’t even make it through the gate.
At dawn the next day, Wang Muxin set out for Xuanyin with six Zixiao disciples.
Two days later they reached the mountain and were stopped at the gate.
“Seeking an audience with the leader?” a disciple said. “That’s unfortunate. Our Sect Leader just left.”
Rumor had it he’d taken the slow but beautiful young lord to seek treatment.
At that moment, Li “slow but beautiful” Dong leaned on the carriage window, watching the scenery roll by.
“Little fool,” Nian Yuzhuo said. “What are you thinking?” Sometimes, seeing Li Dong pretend to ponder something, he’d drift. If this person weren’t “slow,” he’d be breathtaking.
“Yuyu.” Li Dong slid over and leaned against him. “I’m not a little fool.”
“Mm.” Nian sat steady in the carriage. “Once I find Wang Caifeng, you might recover.” He pinched Li Dong’s cheek. “Little fool, if you dare forget me once you’re well, I won’t let you off.”
This suited Li Dong just fine. Nian had been hot and cold lately, emotions wildly unstable. Dragging it out would only invite trouble.
He’d read the original. Nian Yuzhuo wasn’t as easy as he looked. He was extreme and violent, and if he couldn’t get what he wanted for too long, he’d go dark.
Author’s Note:
【It’s another short update today, sorry! Dong-ge will regain his memories next chapter. His personality will be a “flower on a high mountain,” but he’ll still have that boyfriend energy.】
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