Arc 5: Chapter 23
Hearing his full name being called, Xie Hanzhou raised his eyebrow slightly, thinking to himself that he must have spoiled his little disciple too much for him to become this bold.
But with such a cute and well-behaved little disciple, he was willing to spoil him.
“It’s nothing, just inner demons and mental obstacles…” Xie Hanzhou spoke lightly, his tone casual and indifferent. Seeing the unconscious Yu Sui’an who was being cradled in Lin Yuan’s arms, he lowered his gaze slightly, his long eyelashes casting shadows over his dark and unreadable eyes.
Lin Yuan’s voice continued to tremble as his tears continued to flow: “What kind of inner demons? Can… can I help him?”
And help you too, Xie Hanzhou.
Xie Hanzhou didn’t know of his little disciple’s silent thoughts. His fingers were wet with warm tears, and the heat seemed to flow into his heart, creating ripples.
Half-hugging the youth, Xie Hanzhou rested his chin on Lin Yuan’s head, lightly patting his back. Xie Hanzhou’s voice was low, like from the depths of an abyss: “Not crying anymore would help. Demons and obstacles are born from the heart. Lin Yuan, the best way to help is to stay by his side.”
Lin Yuan drilled into Xie Hanzhou’s embrace, burying his face in the man’s neck. He tried his best to calm down his agitated emotions: “En, I understand.”
Xie Hanzhou tightened his arms. They held each other for a while, before Xie Hanzhou slowly released him, saying: “Let’s go back to Ancient Grove Peak.”
⋅ ˚ ₊ ‧ ୨୧ ‧ ₊ ˚ ⋅
At Midnight Rain Pavilion, Xie Hanzhou personally moved Yu Sui’an onto the bed in order to prevent his delicate disciple from being tired out.
But Lin Yuan was not idle. He took off the unconscious man’s boots, fetched a bucket of hot water, and dipped a towel in the water to then carefully clean the man’s face and hands.
Once he finished, Lin Yuan sat by the bedside, watching quietly until he saw Yu Sui’an’s complexion become no longer ashen and bloodless, gaining a bit of rosiness. He let out a long-held sigh of relief.
In the outer room, Xie Hanzhou sat on a chair, propping his arms on a small table and resting his cheek on his hand, his eyes never leaving the door to the bedroom.
When Lin Yuan came out, he finally noticed that Xie Hanzhou’s usual pristine white robe was now wrinkled and stained, and the sight seemed so incongruous that it stung his eyes.
He dragged a stool over to sit beside Xie Hanzhou and lifted the dirty white robe, carefully wiping it with a handkerchief.
In fact, this entire time Xie Hanzhou was not very happy, even sulking. Even when he was calmly comforting his crying little disciple, he was still sulking inside, and the brooding mood was like a needle, painfully scratching at his heart.
But feeling Lin Yuan’s care, he immediately softened his heart. He reached out and pulled the youth into his lap.
This action was cheekier than anything he had ever done. Before, Xie Hanzhou had always felt that their age and status difference created a boundary that he was hesitant to cross, making him unable to act as close or intimate like ordinary lovers.
But because of Yu Sui’an’s existence, one like a tiger glaring at him, Xie Hanzhou didn’t want to continue to hold back or act cautious. Being closer to his little disciple was the most important to him.
Suddenly so close to Xie Hanzhou’s handsome face, Lin Yuan was stunned for a moment: “Master?...”
Xie Hanzhou hummed softly and whispered: “What’s the matter?”
His dark eyes seemed to be even deeper than the night: “You can speak your mind—Master is here.”
Lin Yuan’s brain turned for a second and seemed to understand Xie Hanzhou’s meaning. His eyes blinked and lowered nervously and stared at the man’s sculpted jawline. He said with a trembling voice: “Master, did you see… when Senior Brother and I were on the ground…and kissed…?”
“En, I saw.” Xie Hanzhou wrapped his arm around the youth’s slender waist, and his other hand gently stroked the back of Lin Yuan’s neck: “You did the same on New Year’s Eve, pressing me down on the bed.”
Lin Yuan could tell that Xie Hanzhou was angry, and he hurried to explain: “It’s not what you think… I… I don’t want to cheat or hurt you two… I just…I just like you and Senior Brother, I can’t help it.”
Lin Yuan felt very wronged. He obviously just liked one person, but that person’s soul was divided into two. He couldn’t favor one and abandon the other, so he could only become a scumbag.
“Master, trust me, I didn’t cheat your feelings. I truly like you, and I truly like Senior Brother.”
Lin Yuan was about to cry again: “I truly love you both…”
Xie Hanzhou looked at the panicking little disciple and the suffocation in his heart was eased a little.
His, Yu Sui’an’s, and Lin Yuan’s fates were already intertwined and could not be undone. Although Xie Hanzhou’s possessive desires were no less than Yu Sui’an’s, the bond between Yu Sui’an and Lin Yuan was already sealed, so Xie Hanzhou could only take a step back for his little disciple. Yu Sui’an might stir up some trouble later, but he would eventually compromise too.
Xie Hanzhou was certain of this, because they were, after all, two sides of the same soul. There were times when one didn’t understand oneself, and times when one understood all too well, and towards this matter, it was the latter.
Faced with the sweetest and most irresistible candy, there were only two options: destroy it completely so that no one could have it, or share the sweetness together for a lifetime.
Xie Hanzhou wanted this sweetness, and he knew that Yu Sui’an wanted it too.
But dividing the candy would undoubtedly be a troublesome situation, as he refused to retreat or yield, and neither would Yu Sui’an.
Xie Hanzhou caressed Lin Yuan’s hair and kissed the youth’s warm, teary eyes: “Lin Yuan, you say you love Master and Senior Brother, but if you had to choose, who would you pick?”
Lin Yuan had been worried about this question as soon as he learned the world plot. It was like being asked ‘if your mother and wife both fell into the water, who would save?’.
But Lin Yuan couldn’t make the choice. They were both his husbands, how could he choose? And why couldn’t he keep both of his husbands?!
Seeing Lin Yuan scrunch up his eyebrows in distress, Xie Hanzhou watched with interest as his little disciple seemed to despair more and more as time stretched on. Finally, Lin Yuan whimpered aggrievedly: “Master… can I choose you today and choose Senior Brother tomorrow? If you don’t want to… then I won’t choose…”
Have both, or have none. This was the only method Lin Yuan could think of.
But Lin Yuan didn’t want them to think he was forcing them to compromise, and quickly explained: “Master, I don’t want to force you or Senior Brother to compromise. You’re both the best in my heart, and I like you both. Really, I don’t want to give up on anyone.”
Xie Hanzhou had already expected such an answer. Still, hearing the youth’s serious and eager explanation, made him chuckle softly. He pinched his little disciple’s aggrieved little face, like pinching a soft, white steamed bun.
“Master knows." He touched the red corners of Lin Yuan’s eyes and said softly: “You are the disciple I chose and one I taught. Master naturally understands you.”
In the first place, this was not a problem for Lin Yuan to solve, nor should they force Lin Yuan to choose.
Thinking of something, a rare smile flashed past Xie Hanzhou’s deep eyes. He leaned closer, and his cool lips brushed against the youth’s ruddy and soft lips, slowly rubbing them together for a moment. He murmured: “In the mortal world, it’s not uncommon for men to marry multiple wives. As my disciple, there’s no reason you shouldn’t enjoy the same blessing. Master will allow you to have the fortune of multiple husbands, does that sound good?”
Shocked, Lin Yuan’s eyes widened like saucers. It took a bit of time to process what Xie Hanzhou had just said.
Multiple husbands?
Lin Yuan turned red from his ears down to his neck. His eyes fluttered around the room before looking back at the handsome man in front of him, and whispered: “Master, marriages is a bond that lasts until death, wouldn’t that be too unfair to you?”
Xie Hanzhou did not reply, and instead kissed Lin Yuan’s lips again. He licked and sucked as if he was savoring the most delicious candy.
Prying open Lin Yuan’s lips, Xie Hanzhou finally did what he had been thinking about all day, entangling himself with his little disciple’s soft and tender tongue.
He had to admit that kissing Lin Yuan was too addicting, it was no wonder Lin Yuan had hooked him, along with Yu Sui’an.
Something so precious was bound to attract admirers.
Xie Hanzhou indulged himself in Lin Yuan’s warm and sweet mouth for a while, and then pulled away to rest his forehead against Lin Yuan’s, making their hot breaths mingle together. He said lowly: “Master doesn’t feel wronged at all—not even a little. Before I had nothing, compared to those days, this is infinitely better. How could I possibly feel wronged?”
Knowing that Xie Hanzhou was referring to his childhood, Lin Yuan’s heart ached with distress, and he took the initiative to kiss Xie Hanzhou again to comfort him.
Their kiss grew deeper and more intense. Lin Yuan felt a heat from Xie Hanzhou’s body and opened his eyes. With half excitement and half shyness, Lin Yuan reached down and touched the man lightly, and whispered: “Master, you…”
Xie Hanzhou’s heated breaths warmed Lin Yuan’s neck, and he quickly caught the smaller hand. His voice was hoarse and dangerous: “How can there be someone like you, like a little fool that offers himself up willingly. If I didn’t have other considerations, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to resist taking you today.”
Lin Yuan flushed even deeper. He actually hadn’t thought that far ahead, and only wanted to make Xie Hanzhou more comfortable.
But he couldn’t stop the small bud of pride and happiness in his heart. Who wouldn’t feel that way after being the reason why his otherworldly and elegant master almost lost control?
Lin Yuan buried himself into Xie Hanzhou’s embrace and whispered embarrassedly: “I just didn’t want you to be uncomfortable. Though… even if you want to, you can’t do it now, Senior Brother is still unconscious. Let’s talk about it after he’s better.”
Xie Hanzhou tightened his embrace. He was afraid that once Yu Sui’an was better, there would be a slew of schemes and tricks to steal away his little disciple. Xie Hanzhou leaned down and whispered possessively in Lin Yuan’s ear: “When he gets better, you still can’t do it, understand? No matter how much he wants it, you can’t agree.”
Lin Yuan thought that Xie Hanzhou had other considerations, and agreed obediently: “Ok, I’ll listen to Master.”
Xie Hanzhou accompanied Lin Yuan until Yu Sui’an showed signs of waking up before leaving. He didn’t want to see his little disciple talk sweetly to the other version of himself.
Yu Sui’an propped himself up on the bed, and was just about to speak, when his sight landed on Lin Yaun’s swollen lips.
He changed his words.
“Lin Yuan, does Xie Hanzhou taste good?”